This is a slight rise on recent years, but it is well below the levels seen in the mid-2000s, according to new data from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI).
Historical Department of Housing data indicates that sole borrowers accounted for close to half of first-time buyer mortgages between 2005 and 2008.
However, single borrowers accounted for 35pc of first-time mortgage drawdowns in Dublin – and a similar percentage in the west – the banking data for the year to June shows.
In Meath and Kildare, no more than a quarter of first-time mortgages were drawn down by sole applicants.
Most new mortgages are drawn down by joint borrowers, but sole borrowers accounted for 31pc overall of first-time buyer mortgages in the 12 months ending last June.
Brian Hayes of the BPFI said home loan values for sole borrowers are relatively low compared with joint borrowers, but rising faster.
The median, or typical, mortgage value for joint first-time borrowers is €345,000. This is almost €100,000 more than the equivalent value for sole borrowers, which is €248,000.
However, there has been a larger increase in the amount being borrowed by sole buyers.
Overall, the number of first-time buyer mortgage drawdowns rose by 5.5pc in the first half of the year when compared with the same period last year.
Close to 12,000 first-time buyer mortgages were drawn down in the first half of the year.
This is the highest volume for the first-time buyers drawdowns in a first-half of the year period (H1) since 2007, the BPFI said.
The value of these drawdowns was up by 14.4pc to €3.7bn.
Mover-purchaser activity also grew. The number was up by 3.5pc year on year, to 3,947.
The value of mover mortgages grew by 13.3pc to almost €1.5bn.
The average first-time buyer mortgage amount hit its highest level since the data series began in 2003, at €314,800.
Mover values also hit a high, reaching €373,400.
The median, or typical, household income of first-time borrowers rose by about €20,000 to almost €90,000 between 2019 and last year.
The median sole borrower income rose by about €16,000 to almost €68,000 over the same period.
About half of sole mortgages in the Dublin commuter region of Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, and in Cork, were drawn down by households with basic incomes up to €65,000.
Demand for housing remains robust
Fewer than one in 10 had an income level of €65,000 in other regions.
“The mortgage market continues to evolve, reflecting the diverse needs of today’s borrowers,” Mr Hayes said.
“Whether it’s first-time buyers, those moving home, individuals building their own homes, or those buying on their own, demand for housing remains robust.”
Mr Hayes said this emphasises the importance of delivering a wide range of housing options to accommodate changing household structures and affordability challenges.
The report also found that Dublin was the largest county market, with 31pc of first-time buyers, and 40pc of mover mortgages.
Dublin also had the highest median property and loan values as well as basic household incomes for all customer types in the first half of this year.
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